Domestic appliance comprising a moveable control panel

ABSTRACT

A domestic appliance includes a front control panel sized to conceal a holding chamber arranged therebehind for a domestic appliance component, and a movement mechanism which includes a motorized drive and configured to move the control panel for opening and closing the holding chamber. The control panel is hereby moved by the motorized drive on a first partial travel path between two end positions of a total travel path, and moved by a user on a second partial travel path between the two end positions of the total travel path.

The invention relates to a domestic appliance comprising a front control panel, which conceals a holding chamber arranged therebehind for a domestic appliance component. The domestic appliance also comprises a movement mechanism having a motorized drive. The movement mechanism is designed to move the control panel in order to open and close the holding chamber.

DE 10 2007 048 200 A1 discloses a domestic appliance of this type. According to this document, the control panel is moved manually, i.e. by the user, over its entire travel path. An electromechanical drive is preferably provided, which moves the control panel from the rest position into the exposed position, and from this position back again into the rest position, independently of the user.

In these embodiments, not only may the control panel make unwanted automatic movements over the possible total travel path, but a user may need to exert an undesirably high force in order to be able to perform the movement of the control panel.

The object of the present invention is to create a domestic appliance in which a front control panel is moved in a more user-friendly manner

This object is achieved by a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 1.

A domestic appliance according to the invention comprises a front control panel, which conceals a holding chamber arranged therebehind for a domestic appliance component. The domestic appliance also comprises a movement mechanism, which is designed to move the control panel in order to open and close the holding chamber. The movement mechanism has at least one motorized drive. An essential idea of the invention can be considered to be that the control panel is moved by the motorized drive on a first partial travel path between two different end positions of a total travel path, and is moved by a user on a second partial travel path between the two different end positions of the total travel path. Said two different end positions are defined in particular by the opened position and the closed position respectively. Specifying a movement on two partial travel paths in this way increases the level of user-friendliness. It prevents unwanted automatic movements of the control panel. In addition, the motorized drive is now required only for segments, hence also allowing energy efficient operation. Furthermore, by virtue of part of the movement of the control panel being performed by the user, it is possible to segment a travel path such that less force needs to be exerted specifically on the partial travel path on which the user performs the movement.

The control panel carries components of an operator control apparatus and is hence designed and arranged to accommodate the operator control apparatus. In particular, the control panel carries components that can be operated directly by a user and/or components that can be viewed by a user and are designed to display information, for instance components such as an operator control and an indicator.

In particular, the total travel path is segmented into partial travel paths such that the force exerted by a user is minimized.

The first partial travel path is preferably apportioned between a closed position of the control panel and an intermediate position. Thus the first partial travel path actually starts back at the first end position constituting the closed position of the control panel.

The second partial travel path is preferably apportioned between an intermediate position and an opened position of the control panel. Thus again in this case, at least one end of the second partial travel path is defined by an end position of the total travel path, namely the second end position of the total travel path. The total travel path between the two different end positions is thereby in particular covered completely along its length by the two partial travel paths, thereby also achieving a seamless transition between the partial travel paths at the intermediate point. This achieves movement of the control panel that is extremely closely matched to requirements and user-friendly. Thus over the total travel path of the control panel there is no longer any travel-path interval which in terms of path length and/or the manner in which the movement of the control panel is made is not designed in a dedicated manner and matched to need and situation. This creates an advantageous design in terms of energy, with regard to the force that must be exerted and the safe and reliable movement of the control panel.

The first partial travel path is preferably apportioned over a length between 25 mm and 35 mm, in particular 30 mm. This relates in particular to a linear horizontal travel path. This specific value for the length enhances the abovementioned advantages.

The movement mechanism preferably comprises a multilink hinge, which is connected to the control panel over the total travel path of the control panel. This also helps to guide the movement and assists in the outward and inward movement according to the situation and travel path, thereby reinforcing the abovementioned advantages regarding user-friendliness.

The multilink hinge preferably comprises at least one spring, which is compressed and expanded on the total travel path, and the length of which, on the total travel path from the closed position of the control panel to the opened position of the control panel, is at maximum compression at a first end of the first partial travel path, which end is further away from the closed position of the control panel. This results in a specific embodiment in which the length of this spring is specifically designed not to be at its maximum compression at the end points of the total travel path and hence at the end positions of the control panel. This specific advantageous embodiment of the invention benefits the movement situations on the partial travel paths having the then possibly different modes of movement generation, one by the user, the other by a motorized drive, in interaction therewith.

The multilink hinge is preferably designed such that the spring, which is connected to hinge elements, during further movement of the multilink hinge on the second partial travel path expands from the compressed transition point reached at the first end and hence from the maximum length compression, and the user-performed actuation is assisted by the spring on the second partial travel path of the control panel and hence of the multilink hinge. This embodiment requires special emphasis because thereby effectively, for the outward movement of the control panel, after going beyond this transition point of maximum compression of the spring and hence on the second partial travel path that then begins, the expansion of the spring contributes an additional force that makes opening easier. Hence on this second partial travel path until reaching the fully opened position of the control panel, the user needs to exert far less force.

The multilink hinge is preferably designed such that the spring, which is connected to hinge elements, on the movement path from the opened position of the control panel into the closed position, after reaching the transition point of maximum compression expands on the first partial travel path that then follows, thereby forming an automatic self-retraction of the control panel. This is likewise another embodiment that requires special emphasis, because thereby effectively, when the control panel is making the inward movement and the second partial travel path has already been fully traversed, on the transition point being reached and for the first partial travel path that then begins, practically no more user force is required because then, until the first end position and hence the closed position of the control panel is reached, this self-retraction is in operation using the expansion of the spring, which then likewise occurs again, and automatically brings about this closed position, although in particular without any assistance from the motorized drive.

The multilink hinge preferably comprises a latching mechanism, by means of which the position of the multilink hinge that corresponds to the opened position of the control panel can be locked. This prevents unwanted retraction or possibly hinging-down of the control panel. A locking facility of this type is advantageous especially when components are being removed from the holding chamber or need to be handled in any other way. In particular, the latching mechanism provides locking and release performed by the user. The latching mechanism preferably comprises appropriate latching elements, which are formed, for example, on a lever of the multilink hinge. The latching mechanism can be made from plastics, for example, and the latching elements can be easy for a user to access and operate.

The movement mechanism preferably comprises two multilink hinges, which are connected by a connecting rod and move in a synchronized manner thereby. This creates a torsionally stiff arrangement, which facilitates a uniform movement of the control panel over its entire width. The control panel is thereby also held and guided in a dimensionally stable manner and is not subject to twist or the like. The connecting rod is preferably a metal rod, which in particular is connected to the multilink hinge by means of a form-fit and a permanent connection such as, for example, a riveted joint or a screw fastening or the like. This also results in a backlash-free fastening.

The individual hinge levers or hinge elements are preferably connected to one another by means of plastic bushings, which allow movement with minimum possible friction and wear. The multilink hinges are preferably formed-fitted at their ends to the control panel at one end and to a technical pillar of the domestic appliance at the other end, and fastened at each end using fasteners such as screws, in particular two screws.

By virtue of the advantageous self-retraction already mentioned above, the control panel is then also pulled against the domestic appliance or against the case of the domestic appliance, thereby also achieving very stable positioning there and preventing wobble or backlash in the end position.

The movement mechanism preferably comprises a position detector, which can be used to detect the position of the control panel. This is advantageous in the sense that it can thereby facilitate with great accuracy and precision the changeover between the motorized drive and the further movement performed by the user that then follows. This allows specifically the precise detection of the two partial travel paths, which preferably are immediately adjacent to one another, and of the transition that is hence then made, to be precise the transition from the initially fully automatic movement by the motorized drive to the movement by a user that in particular is assisted by the expanding spring on the travel path from the closed position to the opened position of the control panel.

The position detector preferably comprises an electronic switch for detecting the position of the control panel. This again makes more precise the precision of the position detection and the activation and deactivation of the motorized drive.

The electronic switch is preferably arranged on the multilink hinge. Not only can the switch be mounted there in a highly space-saving manner but it is also possible to capture immediately and very directly and precisely the movement and hence also the position detection.

The motorized drive is preferably active on the movement path of the first partial length from the closed position up to an intermediate position, in particular is active only on this first partial length and only in this direction of movement. This therefore means that in the advantageous embodiment, the motorized drive is active only between the two end positions in the direction of movement from the closed position into the opened position, which constitute the two end positions, between the closed position and the intermediate position. This also assists the movement scenario and enhances the advantages already mentioned in the introduction.

High safety requirements are also taken into account by means of the position detector, with the result that operating mistakes can be prevented. In particular, it can be used to detect the closed end position of the control panel very accurately.

The control panel is preferably moved in a circular path on the total travel path between the two end positions, the closed end position and the opened position. This embodiment, in particular implemented using the multilink hinges, has the advantage that where installation space is extremely tight, it allows a relatively large travel path and hence a relatively large movement path between the two different end positions. This provides unrestricted access to the holding chamber.

Furthermore, a more complex movement path can also be provided by the multilink hinge. This allows the movable control panel to be used also in a built-in arrangement as it is known, which means that it allows fitting below a kitchen work surface of a built-in unit.

Another advantage can be considered to be that a high stability of the control panel is achieved even in the fully moved-out state and hence in the opened position.

The option comprising the multilink hinge and the spring specifically also creates a situation where during operation without electricity, for example during a power cut, and hence in an emergency mode of the control-panel movement, it is possible to move this control panel over the first partial length in a user-defined manner.

The motorized drive preferably comprises a worm gear, which is coupled to the control panel so as to provide movement. In particular it is provided here that the entire first partial travel path or the partial length is covered solely by a single turn of the worm gear. It can also be provided that the motorized drive comprises an electric motor having a spur gear, for which the force transmission is made by a lever or a cam plate onto a motor shaft of the electric motor.

The embodiment comprising a worm gear dispenses with the need for unwanted positioning rods or the like, which take up a large amount of space. By a single motor revolution, the entire system is back in the initial position and the control panel can be closed without any additional force exerted.

The same applies to the embodiment comprising an electric motor.

The claims, figures and description of the figures contain further features of the invention. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below and/or shown solely in the figures, can be used not just in the particular combination given but also in other combinations or in isolation without departing from the scope of the invention. Hence the invention shall be considered to include and disclose also embodiments that are not explicitly explained and shown in the figures but that can be found and derived from the explained embodiments by separate combinations of features.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to schematic diagrams, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a domestic appliance according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the control panel containing components of a movement mechanism of the domestic appliance for moving the control panel;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 having a control panel in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 showing a control panel in the fully opened position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the movement mechanism having a motorized drive that comprises a worm gear; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a movement mechanism having an electric motor as the motorized drive.

In the figures, elements that are identical or have the same function are denoted by the same reference numbers.

FIG. 1 shows a domestic appliance 1, which is in the form of an oven. The domestic appliance 1 comprises a case 2, in which a cooking chamber 3 is closed at the front by a door 4 and is bounded by walls of a heated enclosure. The door 4 has a handle 5 on the outside.

The domestic appliance 1 also comprises an operator control apparatus 6, which in terms of position and number comprises operator controls 7 and 8 and a display unit 9 merely by way of example. The operator control apparatus 6 is retained at the front by a control panel 10, which control panel 10 preferably extends over its full width of the domestic appliance 1, and in the exemplary embodiment is arranged above the door 4. The control panel 10 conceals a holding chamber 11 formed in the case 2, in which chamber is arranged a tank 12, in the form of a domestic appliance component, for a fluid, in particular water, which arrangement shall be understood to be purely by way of example in FIG. 1 and to have no limiting effect on position or embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the domestic appliance 1 is also designed for steam cooking, and comprises a steam generator, which is connected to the tank 12 such that the water contained therein is evaporated and introduced into the cooking chamber 3. The tank 12 can be removed from the holding chamber 11, for which purpose the control panel 10 can be moved relative to the case 2 and also relative to the holding chamber 11, in particular can be hinged upward from the fully closed position shown in FIG. 1, and is then in the fully opened position. In this fully opened position of the control panel 10, the holding chamber 11 is then freely accessible from the front, and, for example, the tank 12, in the form of a domestic appliance component, can be removed and reinserted easily.

The operator controls 7 and 8 and the display unit 9 are permanently arranged on the control panel 10, with a tray for holding the electronics of said components being arranged on the rear side, in particular being fastened to the rear of the control panel 10.

For the purpose of moving this control panel 10, the domestic appliance 1 comprises a movement mechanism 13, which also comprises a motorized drive. The movement mechanism 13 is used to move the control panel 10 for the purpose of opening and closing and hence also for providing and blocking access to the holding chamber 11.

The domestic appliance 1 is designed such that the control panel 10 is moved by the motorized drive on a first partial travel path between two different end positions of a total travel path, and is moved by a user on a second partial travel path between the two end positions of the total travel path. This means that hence between the closed position of the panel 10, which constitutes a first end position on the total travel path, and an opened position, which constitutes a second end position of the total travel path, the movement of the control panel 10 is performed on a first travel path segment under automatic control by the motorized drive, and on a second travel path segment, which corresponds to the second partial travel path, there is no accompanying motorized drive power but it is the user himself who initiates the movement by exerting an appropriate force. In particular, on this second partial travel path, the user-performed movement is assisted by a mechanical component, in particular by a spring.

The first partial travel path is preferably apportioned between a closed position of the control panel 10 and an intermediate position of this control panel 10 between the aforementioned two different end positions. In particular, the second partial travel path is apportioned between this intermediate position and the opened position of the control panel 10. The total travel path between the closed end position and the opened end position of the control panel 10 is thus composed of the two partial travel paths.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the control panel 10 containing components of the movement mechanism 13. The movement mechanism 13 comprises on opposite sides two separate multilink hinges 14, which are connected to the control panel 10. Each of the multilink hinges 14 considered in isolation comprises a plurality of hinge elements that are connected to one another and can move relative to one another. In addition, each of these multilink hinges 14 also comprises a spring 15 (FIG. 3), which is coupled and connected to the hinge elements.

In addition, as shown in the diagram in FIG. 2, which shows the closed state or the closed position of the control panel 10, an electronic switch 16, which is part of a position detector, is arranged on one of the multilink hinges 14. The position detector is used to detect the current position of the control panel 10 from the position of the multilink hinge 14. The active and inactive operation of the motorized drive is then controlled by means of a control unit (not shown).

The two multilink hinges 14 are connected via a connecting rod 17, in particular made of metal. The rigid connection of this rod 17 to the two multilink hinges 14 thereby also synchronizes the movement between the multilink hinges 14.

The multilink hinges 14 are preferably connected to the control panel 10 over the total travel path over which this control panel 10 can move.

The spring 15 is compressed and expanded on the movement path by the movement of the hinge elements of the associated multilink hinge 14. The spring is designed and arranged such that, considered on the total travel path from the closed position of the control panel 10 to the opened position of this control panel 10, its length is at maximum compression at a first end of the first partial travel path, which end is further away from the closed position of the control panel. Hence this maximum compressed length is where the spring 15 is also at its most compacted and pre-loaded.

Each multilink hinge 14 is also designed such that the particular spring 15 connected to the respective hinge elements, starting from the compressed transition point reached at the first end and hence from the maximum length compression, on further movement of the multilink hinge 14 on the second partial travel path that then follows, expands and hence extends in length, and the user-performed actuation of the control panel 10 is assisted by the spring 15 on the second partial travel path up to the fully opened position of the control panel 10.

The multilink hinge 15 is preferably also designed such that the spring 15 connected to hinge elements of the multilink hinge 14, on the movement path from the opened position of the control panel 10 into the closed position, after reaching the transition point of maximum compression expands on the first partial travel path that then follows, thereby forming an automatic self-retraction of the control panel 10. This means that when, for example, the control panel 10 is meant to be closed from the fully opened position, in the process then moving initially on the second partial travel path, which is initiated by a user by pushing the control panel 10 toward the closed position, the spring 15 is again compressed and hence pre-loaded more strongly. If then on the total travel path, the end of the second partial travel path nearer the first partial travel path is reached, i.e. in the exemplary embodiment also this transition point of maximum compression of the spring is reached, which then lies precisely at this point between the first and second partial travel path, then on further onward movement of the control panel 10 toward the fully closed state or the fully closed position, i.e. on the then further traversal of the first partial travel path, this traversal proceeds automatically, with the springs 15 expanding for this purpose, and by this expansion producing the self-retraction of the control panel into the fully closed position. During this closure operation comprising the then traversal of the first partial travel path up to the closed position of the control panel 10, there is hence also no longer any need for user-assisted exertion of force on the control panel 10. In particular in this case the movement is also performed without assistance from a motorized drive.

In particular, the motorized drive is anyway only active on the actuation path on which the control panel 10 is being moved on the first partial travel path from the fully closed position to the opened position. For any other movement up to the fully opened position or from the fully opened position back into the fully closed position, the movement is then not assisted by a motorized drive.

FIG. 3 shows in a side view the embodiment of FIG. 2. The multilink hinge 14 comprises the hinge elements 18, 19, 20 and at least 21, which can be seen in the figure.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embodiment in FIG. 3, although in this case it shows the fully opened position of the control panel 10.

FIG. 5 shows in a simplified perspective view an embodiment in which the movement mechanism 13 is shown having a motorized drive 22, which also comprises a worm gear 23. By means of this embodiment of the worm gear 23, a single complete turn produces travel along the first partial length or the first partial travel path from the closed position of the control panel 10 to the intermediate position.

FIG. 6 shows in a simplified perspective view a further exemplary embodiment of the movement mechanism 13, where an electric motor 24 equipped with a spur gear is provided as the motorized drive in this case. The force is transmitted by a lever or a cam on the motor shaft, in which process a rod 25 rotates and thereby pushes and hence moves accordingly the switch front or the control panel 10 from the fully closed position toward the intermediate position.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 domestic appliance

2 case

3 cooking chamber

4 door

5 handle

6 operator control apparatus

7 operator control

8 operator control

9 display unit

10 control panel

11 holding chamber

12 tank

13 movement mechanism

14 multilink hinge

15 spring

16 switch

17 connecting rod

18 hinge element

19 hinge element

20 hinge element

21 hinge element

22 drive

23 worm gear

24 electric motor

25 rod 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A domestic appliance, comprising: a front control panel sized to conceal a holding chamber arranged therebehind for a domestic appliance component, and a movement mechanism including a motorized drive and configured to move the control panel for opening and closing the holding chamber, said control panel being moved by the motorized drive on a first partial travel path between two end positions of a total travel path, and moved by a user on a second partial travel path between the two end positions of the total travel path.
 17. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the first partial travel path is dimensioned to extend between a closed position of the control panel and an intermediate position.
 18. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the second partial travel path is dimensioned to extend between an intermediate position and an opened position of the control panel.
 19. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the first partial travel path has a length between 25 mm and 35 mm.
 20. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the first partial travel path has a length of 30 mm.
 21. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one multilink hinge, which is connected to the control panel over the total travel path of the control panel.
 22. The domestic appliance of claim 21, wherein the multilink hinge comprises at least one spring, which compresses and expands on the total travel path, said at least one spring having a length of maximum compression at a first end of the first partial travel path, which end is further away from a closed position of the control panel, when viewed on the total travel path from the closed position to an opened position of the control panel.
 23. The domestic appliance of claim 22, wherein the multilink hinge includes hinge elements connected to the spring, said multilink hinge being configured such that the spring expands from a transition point of maximum compression at the first end on the second partial travel path, as the multilink hinge continues to move on the second partial travel path, with the spring thereby assisting a movement initiated by the user on the second partial travel path.
 24. The domestic appliance of claim 22, wherein the multilink hinge includes hinge elements connected to the spring, said multilink hinge being configured such that the spring, when moving from the opened position of the control panel to the closed position, expands, after reaching the transition point of maximum compression, on the first partial travel path that then follows, thereby forming an automatic self-retraction of the control panel.
 25. The domestic appliance of claim 22, wherein the multilink hinge comprises a latching mechanism configured to lock the multilink hinge in the opened position of the control panel.
 26. The domestic appliance of claim 25, wherein the latching mechanism is configured to enable the user to lock and release the multilink hinge in the opened position of the control panel.
 27. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the movement mechanism comprises two multilink hinges, and a connecting rod connecting the two multilink hinges so as to establish a synchronized movement of the two multilink hinges.
 28. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a position detector configured to detect a position of the control panel.
 29. The domestic appliance of claim 28, wherein the position detector comprises an electronic switch for detecting the position of the control panel.
 30. The domestic appliance of claim 29, wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one multilink hinge, which is connected to the control panel over the total travel path of the control panel, said electronic switch being arranged on the multilink hinge.
 31. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the motorized drive is active on a movement path in a direction of the first partial travel path from a closed position up to an intermediate position.
 32. The domestic appliance of claim 31, wherein the motorized drive is active only on the first partial travel path and only in said direction of movement.
 33. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the motorized drive comprises a worm gear, which is dynamically coupled to the control panel.
 34. The domestic appliance of claim 33, wherein the worm gear is configured such that one turn of the worm gear implements a movement along the first partial travel path in its entirety.
 35. The domestic appliance of claim 16, wherein the motorized drive comprises an electric motor having a spur gear to effect a force transmission via a lever or a cam plate onto a motor shaft. 